Floor conditioning machine



April H. D. OVERHOLSER 2,31

FLOOR CONDITIONING MACHINE Filed May 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l .3 0z erlzalsen mmvroa' April 20, .1943. H. ,D. OVERHOLSER 2,316,305

FLOOR CONDITIONING" MACHINE I Filed May 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOIZQ.

Patented Apr. 20, 1943 FLOOR CONDITIONING MACHINE Henry Dale Overholser, Tujunga, Calif., assigner of one-half to Frank R. Crandall, Los Angeles,

Calif.

Application May 20, 1942, Serial No. 443,802

3 Claims.

This invention relates to electric floor conditioning or surfacing machines, the primary object of the invention being to provide a machine of this character which will be noiseless in operation, to the end that the machine is especially adapted for use in hospitals, or places wherein the usual floor surfacing machine is objectionable.

Another important object of the invention is to provide means for removably securing the brush head or working member to the driving member of the machine, to insure the true centering of the working member with respect to the drive shaft of the machine, eliminating any possibility of the working member being mounted oifcenter.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for securing the control handle of the machine, directly to the motor thereof, and to adjust the angle of operation of the control handle, by movement of the motor within its supporting bearings, thereby eliminating the usual pivotal adjusting connection between the motor and control handle which is frequenth rendered inoperative, due to strain directed thereto in operating the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a floor surfacing machine in which the body portion of the machine is so arranged that the centerof gravity is appreciably lowered for better balance of the machine, to permit the machine to be easily guided and handled, while in operation.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view through a floor surfacing machine constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the brush head or working member illustrating the clips and manner of securing the brush head or Working member to the spider or body portion of the machine.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the body portion of the machine is indicated generally by the reference 5, and is in the form of a spider, the arms 6 thereof having upstanding portions 1 that have their upper ends connected by the ring 8. This ring 8 provides a friction gear used in driving the machine, the upper surface of the ring being beveled, as clearly shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings. An enlargement indicated at 9 is formed on the body portion and extends downwardly therefrom, the enlargement being bored to accommodate the bearings Ill and II, in which the shaft I2 is mounted.

Secured to the upper end of the shaft i2 is the substantially U-shaped bracket iii, the upper ends of the bracket being curved to receive the cushion bearings M in which the shaft I 5 of the motor 66, operates. Clamping arms I! are connected with the bracket I3, and are adapted to clamp the hubs [8 of the motor, and in which the cushion bearings are held. The upper ends of the clamping arms I! are formed with openings to receive the bolts I9 to the end that when the bolts are loosened, the motor may be rotated within the clamping arms and secured in its adjusted position by tightening the bolts. Due to this construction, it will be seen that the handle 29 which is connected to the motor by the socket 29' which is secured to the motor, may be adjusted with respect to the floor surface, so that the desired angle of operation of the handle may be obtained, to facilitate the use of the machine by persons of various heights.

Splined on the motor shaft I5 is the friction gear 2! which is constructed of suitable composition material, capable of setting up a frictional contact with the ring 8, to transmit rotary movement to the ring 8 and spider, to which the ring 8 is connected. The friction gear 2| is formed with an enlarged opening for the reception of the coiled spring 22, which bears against the nut 23 secured on the end of the shaft [5, with the result that the friction gear 2| is urged inwardly towards the motor to compensate for wear of the friction gear, and to insure a true working contact between the friction gear and ring 8.

The working member which in the present showing is in the form of a brush, is indicated by the reference character 23' and comprises a disk-like member formed with a simple opening for the reception of the enlargement 9 of the body portion. Clips 24 are secured to the upper surface of the working member 23' and are disposed near the periphery of the working member 23 to provide a rigid securing means. These clips are so arranged that when the working member 23' is positioned and given a slight rotary movement in the direction of the arrow as shown by Fig. 4, the clips 24 will move into engagement with the arms of the spider or body portion 5, removably securing the working member 23 to the body portion.

The reference character 25 designates th hood or cover of the, machine, which is secured to the motor casing, by means of the screws 26. This hood or cover 25 is constructed so that the free edge thereof extends downwardly to a point adjacent to the upper surface of the working member, as shown by Fig. l of the drawings.

A rubber cushioning ring indicated at 21 is positioned on the hood or cover 25 and is heldin place by frictional contact with the hood or cover, at a point adjacent to the rolled edge 28 thereof.

It will of course be understood that the. usual wires, providing the circuit to the motor, may be extended through the handle in a convenient manner,- the circuit being controlled by means of a switch mounted at'the free end of the handle where the operator will have easy access thereto.

While I haveshown and described the working memberin the form of a brush, it is to be understood that various types of working members may be used in lieuof the brush, to adapt the machine foraccomplishinga particular type of work.

From the foregoing it Will be seen that du to the construction shown and described, I have provided a floor surfacing machine wherein the usual toothed gears are eliminated to the end that an exceptionally quiet machine is provided, especially adapting the machine for use in hospitals or the like.

It will further beseenthat the working angle of the handle may be readily adjustedby loosening the bolts l9 and moving'the handle to the desired position for the convenience of the operator. The bolts are then tightened, securely holding the motor and control handle, in their positions of adjustment. 7

It will also be noted that the particular manner of securing the working member to the body portion of the machine, provides an exceptionally rigid construction, the working member being braced at points adjacent to the peripherythereof, thereby relieving the bearings of undue strain directed thereto, while the machine is in operation, and is being moved over a floor surface.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a floor surface conditioning machine, a rotary brush-carrying body, a substantially U- shaped motor bracket mounted within the body, clamping arms at the ends of the bracket and adapted to embrace the hubs of an electric motor, supporting the motor within the body, means for moving the clamping arms into gripping relation with the hubs of the motor, whereby said motor is held in various positions of rotary adjustment, within the bracket, a handle rigidly secured to the motor, and by means of which the machine is guided, and means for directing rotary movement of the motor to said rotary body.

2. In a floor surface conditioning machine, a rotary brush-carrying body, a bracket including motor clamping members, mounted within the body, a motor mounted for rotary adjustment within the bracket, means for securing said motor-clamping members into clamping relation with the motor, whereby said motor is held'in various positions of adjustment, means for transmitting rotary movement of the motor to the body, and a handle secured to the motor and by means of which the machine is guided.

3. In a floor surface conditioning machine, a rotary brush-carrying body, a ring gear forming a part of the body, a U-shaped bracket mounted on the body, a horizontal motor having hubs, clamping members on the U-shaped bracket adapted to embrace said hubs, said motor adapted to be rotatably adjusted within the clamping members, means for securing the clamping members in gripping relation with th hubs, holding the motor in various positions of adjustment within the clamping members, a handle secured directly to the motor, and by means of which the machine is manipulated, said bracket adapted to support the motor on a line drawn horizontally through the center of the device and below the handle connection with the motor, whereby the weight of the machine is centered.

HENRY DALE OVERHOLSER. 

